For the first time in years, it is possible for the people of Beaumont to be optimistic about their school district - but not because of anything local officials did. It happened because Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams made the one bold move that can finally rescue the Beaumont ISD.

State Rep. Joe Deshotel is correct in saying that this is nothing to cheer about. It is a sad day for Beaumont when the state has to come in and take over our school district because the people in charge virtually ran it into the ground. But we believe that this dramatic change will lead to a day when Beaumont once again has a school district that everyone can be proud of.

As Williams stated so clearly, nothing else but a clean sweep would get the job done. Until the bitter end, Superintendent Timothy Chargois and board president Gwen Ambres didn't get it. They tried to convince Williams that a few last-minute tinkers - made reluctantly and under great pressure - could fix a profoundly broken system.

Fortunately, Williams wasn't misled by their sudden promises. The best thing these officials can do now is abandon any plans for appeals and let the inevitable happen.

Why? Because the current board and administrators never would come up with a fair 5-2 plan, never would get rid of employees who game the system on paid leave for months at a time and never would part ways with a contractor who admitted altering invoices. They couldn't suddenly commit to efficient and transparent operations because they rarely practiced those traits when they had all the power.

The new board of managers can do all of these things and much more. It must have that opportunity as soon as possible.